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Tension

  • 1949
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
Tension (1949)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
50 Photos
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir

A meek pharmacist creates an alternate identity under which he plans to murder the bullying liquor salesman who has become his wife's lover.A meek pharmacist creates an alternate identity under which he plans to murder the bullying liquor salesman who has become his wife's lover.A meek pharmacist creates an alternate identity under which he plans to murder the bullying liquor salesman who has become his wife's lover.

  • Director
    • John Berry
  • Writers
    • Allen Rivkin
    • John D. Klorer
    • John Berry
  • Stars
    • Richard Basehart
    • Audrey Totter
    • Cyd Charisse
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    3.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Berry
    • Writers
      • Allen Rivkin
      • John D. Klorer
      • John Berry
    • Stars
      • Richard Basehart
      • Audrey Totter
      • Cyd Charisse
    • 85User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:06
    Watch Trailer

    Photos50

    Tom D'Andrea in Tension (1949)
    Tom D'Andrea in Tension (1949)
    Richard Basehart, William Conrad, and Barry Sullivan in Tension (1949)
    Barry Sullivan and Audrey Totter in Tension (1949)
    Lloyd Gough and Audrey Totter in Tension (1949)
    Richard Basehart and Audrey Totter in Tension (1949)
    Audrey Totter and Tommy Walker in Tension (1949)
    Cyd Charisse and Barry Sullivan in Tension (1949)
    Cyd Charisse and Barry Sullivan in Tension (1949)
    Richard Basehart and Audrey Totter in Tension (1949)
    Audrey Totter in Tension (1949)
    Barry Sullivan and Audrey Totter in Tension (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Basehart
    Richard Basehart
    • Warren Quimby
    Audrey Totter
    Audrey Totter
    • Claire Quimby
    Cyd Charisse
    Cyd Charisse
    • Mary Chanler
    Barry Sullivan
    Barry Sullivan
    • Lt. Collier Bonnabel
    Lloyd Gough
    Lloyd Gough
    • Barney Deager
    Tom D'Andrea
    Tom D'Andrea
    • Freddie
    William Conrad
    William Conrad
    • Lt. Edgar Gonsales
    Tito Renaldo
    • Narco
    Ray Bennett
    Ray Bennett
    • Theatre Manager
    • (uncredited)
    Virginia Brissac
    Virginia Brissac
    • Mrs. Andrews
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Brocco
    Peter Brocco
    • Balew
    • (uncredited)
    Steve Carruthers
    Steve Carruthers
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Bert Davidson
    • Reporter at Press Club Café
    • (uncredited)
    John Gallaudet
    John Gallaudet
    • Artie
    • (uncredited)
    Theresa Harris
    Theresa Harris
    • Woman in Drugstore
    • (uncredited)
    John Indrisano
    John Indrisano
    • Boxer Handler
    • (uncredited)
    George Magrill
    George Magrill
    • Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    Kitty McHugh
    • Agnes
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Berry
    • Writers
      • Allen Rivkin
      • John D. Klorer
      • John Berry(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After Richard Basehart's character of Quimby decides to create another identity for himself, he gets the idea for the name Sothern when he sees a movie fan magazine with Ann Sothern on the cover. "Tension" producer Robert Sisk was then in the process of prepping L'ombre sur le mur (1950) to star Miss Sothern in the last film of her long-term MGM contract.
    • Goofs
      When Claire is flirting with Junior and orders dessert, there is an advertisement for Dad's Root Beer on the wall behind her; the word "beer" is marked out. Then when she flirts with a customer, the sign is not marked Also, the salt shaker, absent from the first shot, appears on the counter in the latter shot; other condiment containers on the counter also are in different positions.
    • Quotes

      Warren Quimby: What are you doing?

      Claire Quimby: I'm leaving. I'm through. I got what I'm looking for and I'm gonna grab it while I got the chance.

      Warren Quimby: Barney Deager?

      Claire Quimby: A real guy.

      Warren Quimby: Claire, don't do this, I'm asking you, don't do it.

      Claire Quimby: There's nothing to talk about. It was different in San Diego, you were kind of cute in your uniform. You were full of laughs then. Well, you're all laughed out now.

    • Connections
      Featured in Tension: Who's Guilty Now? (2007)

    User reviews85

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Hitchcock?
    Why is everyone here comparing this (unfavorably) to Hitchcock? Apples and oranges! What this is is a damn good little B mystery lifted to art by the estimable, underrated Audrey Totter and an evocative score by Andre Previn. He reused the theme here years later in the much more well known Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Parenthetically, can anyone think of a movie that wasn't bettered by the presence of the fabulous Miss Totter? Let's file belated criminal charges against M-G-M for misusing this dream girl!
    helpful•34
    16
    • edward-miller-1
    • Jun 25, 2003

    Top picks

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Tension?Powered by Alexa
    • Why did Barney back down from the fight with Quimby?
    • What was Claire's motive?Claire was somewhat of a nymphomaniac and pursued "new" men who caught her attention without a second thought. She apparently had a history of such behavior as alluded to in Bonnabel's brief description of her past. She presumably got into a confrontation with Barney when he learned of her two-timing him, and she shot and killed him with his gun.
    • Why was Claire foolish enough to date Bonnabel?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1949 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Spänning
    • Filming locations
      • 10350 Bellwood Avenue, Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Paul Sothern's and Mary Chanler's apartment building - exteriors)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $682,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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